Background Processes
Relevant source files
The following files were used as context for generating this wiki page:
Nexus Orchestrator operates as a local-first, autonomous infrastructure daemon designed to bridge the gap between AI agents and their operating environments. The background processes function as the "nervous system" of the platform, managing environments, SSH connectivity, and state files without requiring manual human intervention.
These processes ensure that the infrastructure remains responsive to AI agents through a persistent orchestration layer. This layer synthesizes communication protocols, workflow management, and security governance into a continuous background service.
Sources: README.md:3-8
Core Daemon Architecture
The primary background process is the Autonomous Infrastructure Daemon. This daemon manages four critical pillars of the system: connectivity, orchestration, state context, and security governance. It remains active to provide non-human identities (AI agents) with a secure, managed bridge to system resources.
Architectural Pillars
| Pillar | Function | Primary Component |
|---|---|---|
| Connectivity | Manages SSH and protocol-based communication | MCP-based protocol |
| Orchestration | Executes and manages complex workflows | LangGraph Engine |
| Context | Maintains state and tracks active participants | AGENTS.md / Context Layer |
| Governance | Enforces security and access control | OPA + Zero Trust |
Sources: README.md:10-15
Process Flow
The following diagram illustrates how the background daemon processes agent requests and manages infrastructure state:
The diagram shows the transition from an agent request through the connectivity and governance layers before impacting the infrastructure environments and state.
Sources: README.md:11-14, nexus/daemon.py
Workflow Orchestration
Background orchestration is powered by LangGraph, which manages the execution of tasks as complex workflows. This allows Nexus to handle long-running infrastructure tasks that require persistent state tracking and multi-step logic.
- Autonomous Management: The system handles SSH connectivity and environment setup autonomously in the background.
- Workflow Execution: LangGraph acts as the engine for transitioning between different infrastructure states based on agent needs.
Sources: README.md:5, README.md:12, nexus/orchestration/engine.py
Context and State Maintenance
A dedicated background process maintains the "Context Layer." This layer is responsible for tracking the state of the system and the identity of agents interacting with the orchestrator.
Agent Tracking
The file context/AGENTS.md serves as a persistent registry for all AI agents known to the system. The background process updates this file to reflect the current landscape of active and authorized agents.
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Agent ID | Unique identifier for the AI agent |
| Description | Role or purpose of the agent |
| Trust Level | Security clearance assigned via the Governance Layer |
Sources: context/AGENTS.md:1-7, README.md:13
Connectivity and Governance
The background processes implement a Zero Trust security model using Open Policy Agent (OPA). This ensures that every background action triggered by an agent is verified against established policies.
This sequence highlights the background validation process that occurs before any infrastructure changes are applied.
Sources: README.md:14, nexus/connectivity/mcp_server.py
Summary
Background processes in Nexus Orchestrator transform the system into a persistent "Autonomous Infrastructure Daemon." By combining LangGraph for workflow management and MCP for connectivity, the system maintains a continuous orchestration layer that manages environments and security for AI agents without human oversight. This ensures that the "infrastructure gap" is bridged through a reliable, stateful, and secure background service.